Caucus News

Sacramento, CA – California’s iconic salmon fishery, and the thousands of families who depend on the fishery for their livelihood, are in crisis. There has been an unprecedented collapse in California’s salmon population, tribal allocations are at an all-time low, and there’s a budget shortfall fix that the CA Fish and Wildlife Dept is advancing which will devastate an already struggling fishing fleet.

Sacramento, CA – Senate Bill (SB) 442, passed out of the Senate today with unanimous support. The bill authored by Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), aims to update the existing “Swimming Pool Safety Act” of 1996 to require at least two of seven safety devices specified by the Act. The bill would also require home inspectors to ensure pool or spa areas are equipped with two of the seven specified devices, at the point of sale. 

Sacramento, CA – Senator Anthony J. Portantino closed out the State Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education last week with several important additions and ratifications to the Governor’s recently released May revised budget. 

Sacramento, CA – State Senator Mike McGuire’s groundbreaking legislation that significantly restricts pharmaceutical companies from giving gifts and incentives to medical professionals was approved today in the Senate. 

SB 790 severely restricts pharmaceutical companies from providing flights, travel, speaking fees, consulting payments, entertainment or other economic benefits to health care providers.

California has an opportunity to put patient care and drug affordability before corporate profits with SB 790. 

Sacramento – The California Senate approved SB 620 (Bradford) on a vote of 22-14 to allow a court, in the interest of justice, to use judicial discretion when applying a sentence enhancement for using or discharging a firearm, consistent with other enhancements.

Watch, listen to Sen. Holly J. Mitchell talk about guns and sentence enhancements shortly before Senate approves SB 620.

SACRAMENTO  – State Treasurer John Chiang and Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) said today that California’s Secure Choice program remains on track to provide retirement security to nearly 6.8 million private-sector workers who do not have access to a retirement savings plan from their employer.

Sacramento, CA – Senate Bill (SB) 503, authored by Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), unanimously passed the Senate Governance and Finance committee today with a critical amendment. The amendment would waive the required minimum contribution for one year for a dozen tax check-off programs, to ensure these programs appear on taxpayer’s 2017 returns.